Spring axle



Feb. 18, 1936. N KNOX 2,@31,537

SPRING AXLE Filed June 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 18, 1936. KNQ)( v2,,U3L537 SPRING AXLE Filed June 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb.18, 1936 more STATES PATENT OFFIQE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to spring axles and has.

for its prime object the provision of such a device particularly adaptedfor automobiles to permit the wheels to rise or fall with respect to theframe of the vehicle,-vertically, and under a yielding resistance.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view with the near wheels removed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevationillustrating the invention as applicable to the rear wheel of anautomobile.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through an axle housing.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view through a spring axle for thefront wheel of an automobile.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 ofFigure 5.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the cylinder or housing forming partof the invention.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a lining sleeve for the cylindershown in Figure '7.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that thechassis bars are indicated by the reference numeral III while the frontwheels are indicated by the reference numerals I I, the rear wheels bythe reference numerals I2, and the rear axle housing by the referencenumeral I3.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided for eachfront wheel of the vehicle a spring axle comprising a spindle I4 havinga flange I5 and a stub axle part I6. The stub axle part I6 fits withinthe bore I1 of an axle housing I8, the bore I1 being provided with asuitable way I9 for accommodating a key on the stub axle I6. On the freeend thereof there is provided a suitable washer 2D and nut 2Icooperating with the flange I5 to secure the axle against endwisemovement.

As is apparent the vehicle wheel I I is suitably mounted on the spindleI4.

A pivot pin 22 has a tapered end 22a that is secured within a verticaltapered opening 23 of the axle housing I8. The end 22a is secured withinthe aperture 23 of the housing I8 through the medium of washer and nutmeans 24 on the free end of the tapered part 22a, and a collar 25resting on the top Wall of the housing I8 within the confines of aflange 23.

A housing 21 is provided on one side with upper and lower brackets 28through the medium of which, and suitable fastening means 29, thehousing is secured laterally to the chassis bar II] as clearly suggestedin Figures 1 and 3. For the housing or cylinder 21 there is provided apivot sleeve 30 which adjacent its lower outer end is provided with ashoulder 3I between which and an internal shoulder 32 provided at thelower end of the housing 21 is confined a suitable bearing 33.

The inner end portion of the sleeve 30 is provided with diametricallydisposed slots 34 in which operate the ends of a key 35 that extendstransversely through the pivot rod 22 adjacent the inner or upper endthereof.

Below the shoulders 3| thereof the sleeves 30 are provided with steeringarms 36, the arms being coupled by means of a rod 31, and any suitablemeans may be provided whereby the wheels may be turned by the steeringmechanism in the usual manner.

The sleeve 30 is resiliently retained inwardly of the housing 21, andthe axle housing I8 yieldably retained in vertically spaced relation tothe lower end of the sleeve 30 through the medium of the spring 38 whichis disposed about the pivot rod 22 and has its upper convolutes disposedabout 3 the lower end of the sleeve 22 and bearing against the shoulder3 I, and its lower convolutes disposed about the flange 26 and bearingagainst the top of the axle housing all of which is clearly shown inFigure 5.

For the top of the housing 21 there is provided a suitable closure 39between which and the wall of the housing 21 there is disposed a packing40.

The housing 21 is also provided with a suitable alemite fitting 4 I.

In actual practice it will be apparent that when a wheel II rolls into adepression suddenly the spring 28 will expand so as toprevent thehousing 21 and sleeve 30 from moving downwardly suddenly, and again asthe wheel rides from out of the depression or runs over a stone or anyother obstruction, the spring 38 becomes compressed permitting thehousing I8 to move upwardly relative to the housing 21 and the frame,thus serving a to prevent any sudden jar or abrupt stop of the frame andaxle.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the frame and the axle arethus movable vertically relative to each other and that-the cushioning 1means will not materially affect any steering action of the wheels.

In Figure 2 wherein is illustrated the application of the invention tothe rear wheels of the vehicle it will be noted that the pivot rod 22'is secured directly to the rear axle housing l3 in any suitable mannerpreferably by being integral therewith and that the lower end of thespring 38' bears directly upon the housing l3. Thus the housing I 3 willbe suspended from the frame of the vehicle to permit relative verticalmovement between the frame and the rear wheels of the vehicle.

Having thus described claim as new is:

1. A spring axle including a cylindrical housing adapted to be mountedon the frame of an automobile, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housingand provided with longitudinal slots, an axle housing, a pivot rodmovable longitudinally in the sleeve and connected at one end with theaxle housing, a key on the inner end of the rod enthe invention, what I.

gaging in the slots of the sleeve, and a spring disposed about the pivotrod and having an end bearing against one end of the sleeve, and asecond end bearing against the axle housing.

2. A spring axle including a cylindrical housing adapted to be mountedon the frame of an automobile, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housingand provided with opposed longitudinal slots, an axle housing, a pivotrod movable longitudinally in the sleeve and connected at one end withthe axle housing, a key extending transversely through the inner end ofthe rod and engaging in the slots of the sleeve, and a spring disposedabout the pivot rod and having an end bearing against one end of thesleeve, and a second end bearing against the stub axle housing, and asteering arm secured to the sleeve, a shoulder on the sleeve, aninternal shoulder at the lower end of the housing, and a bearingconfined between said shoulders and within the lower end of saidhousing.

GEORGE N. KNOX.

